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Results and Reports for June 1-6, 2002

Ireland

Dunboyne 3 day

June 1-3, 2002

Stage 1 - June 1: 64 miles

Roche wins stage one in Dunboyne

By Shane Stokes

Former continental professional Laurence Roche continued his racing comeback
today by winning the opening stage of the Dunboyne 3 day race. A finisher in
last week's FBD Milk R‡s, Roche was part of a breakaway group which went clear
during the 64 mile stage and forged ahead in the closing stages to win alone.
Totalcycling.com's Philip Deignan was second, 23 seconds back, with David Brennan
of Castlebar Wheelers next home. Terry McManus (Finglas Ravens) led home the
remnants of the breakaway group 29 seconds down, with the main bunch finishing
further back.

Stage 2 - June 2: ITT, 3.6 miles
Stage 3 - June 2: 60 miles

Roche remains in yellow

By Shane Stokes

Stage one winner Laurence Roche continues to hold the lead in the Dunboyne
3 day race with just one leg remaining tomorrow. Roche rode solidly in this
morning's 3.6 mile time trial to record a time of 6 mins 44 seconds, just 20
seconds off the winning time set by Killorglin rider Barry Woods, then defended
the lead well in the 60 mile afternoon race.

Finglas Ravens rider Anto Moran made a brave effort to win the stage, racing
clear on the final 13 mile lap, but was reeled in by the main bunch within sight
of the finish at Dunboyne. Stamullen M. Donnelly rider Peter Sharkey then took
the mass sprint ahead of Team Ireland's Theo Hardwick and Seamus Kennedy (Navan
Avonmore), with Roche coming home in the midst of the bunch. He has a 9 second
lead over Woods going into tomorrow's concluding 75 mile stage.

Stage 4 - June 3: 75 miles

Roche Wins Dunboyne

By Shane Stokes

Former continental professional Laurence Roche successfully held on to the
yellow jersey in the Dunboyne 3 day race, taking the event by 9 seconds from
Kilorglin rider Barry Woods. The two were part of a ten-man breakaway group
which went clear in the opening miles of the final 75 mile stage and worked
well together to fend off the efforts of the chasing bunch.

The stage was settled in a sprint which saw Team Ireland junior Theo Hardwick
out-gallop Tom Fanning of the IMBRC team, but with Roche finishing safely in
the same time, he took his biggest win in several years.

'It was going to be hard to defend the jersey so I decided that the best way
to do it would be to attack', he said afterwards. 'A group went clear at the
start and once I saw that Sean Bracken was in it, I knew that was the move to
go with, as Sean always gets the riders to work well together. I was able to
get across to the group and from there we all rode hard together.'

Roche has come out of the FBD Milk Rás with good legs, and decided to
make the most of that form. 'I had decided to do the Dunboyne back around the
time of the Tour of Ulster', he said. 'I felt pretty good after the Rás
- I got it hard during the race, but didn't really feel that tired afterwards.
I then took it easy for the week and did nothing on the bike until Friday, when
I went out for half an hour. I ended up feeling pretty good this weekend.'

Back racing after two years off, he has plans to build towards some bigger
goals this season. 'I am trying to get back into decent shape as I have plans
to ride the track this year. I lost half a stone during the Rás but am
still a stone and a half over the weight I was when I rode the Tour de France,
so I will have to get that down a bit more. It isn't quite as crucial when you
are riding the track - there are no hills to worry about - but carrying a bit
extra affects your breathing.'

Roche did a lot of track racing in Ireland as an amateur and still holds many
records. 'A lot of them are still there, surprisingly', he smiles. 'I thought
somebody would have taken them away by now but they are still in my name. One
of them involved doing 220 laps of the track - it was the 100 kilometre time
trial, that was a tough one! I always liked doing the track and it will be good
to get back to it.The type of training needed will suit me as I don't have a
whole lot of spare time with work.'

'To tell you the truth, I have no idea how it will go. I plan to spend some
time over the next few months in the velodrome in Manchester. I could get over
there and decide that a return (to track racing) is not for me, but hopefully
things will work out well. I'll give it a shot and see how things work out.'